April 29, 2012
A Dane County judge refused to issue a restraining order against the closing of the Occupy Madison encampment on the city’s east side.
Judge Amy Smith says while Occupy Madison protesters have first amendment rights they have no special rights to camp out at the location on the 800 block of East Washington Avenue.
Smith says Facebook and State Capitol protests are also available to Occupy Madison members and have been used.
Protesters have used the site for months to raise issues with Wall Street, banks and the lack of services for the homeless.
Madison police say Occupy residents have to clear out by noon on Tuesday. Officers say they don’t expect any pushback.
“The group has been very compliant and they were, in fact, moving a lot of the belongings out today. So I don’t foresee problems. The people that I’ve talked with over many months have all said they have no plans of being resistive, that they would leave,” said Captain Carl Gloede.
Police say any residents who stick around could be cited for trespassing and any belongings that remain will be treated as abandoned property.
Source: WKOW
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